Drop projectile and fuse for same



Sept. 4, 1923.

H. JACOB tDROP FROJEC TILB AND FUSE FOR SAME Filed Aug. so. 1921 :s Sheets-Sheet 3 Patenta& Sept. 4, 1923,

?ATENT FFHC HEINBICH JACOB, OF FBIEDENAU, GERMANY, ASSIGNOB TO THE FIRM OF OPTISOHE ANSTALT C. P. GOERZ AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF FBIEDENAU, NEAR BERLIN,

GERMAN Y.

DROP PROJECTILE AND FUSE FOR SAME.

Application filed August 30, 1921.' Serial No. 496357.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

*To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it" known that I; HEINRICH Jason, a citizen of the derman Republic, and resident of Friedenau, near Beriin. Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improyernents in :i Relating to Drop Projectiles and Fuses for Same for which I i have filed applications for German patents,

filed Oct. 39, 1915. and Nota 5, 1915; for Austrian patents. filed Mar; 30 1.917, and July 19, 1919; for Hungarian patente, filed Apr. 12, 1917. and July 30. 1919; for Czechoslovakian patent, filed Feb. 6, 1920; for Swedish patents. filed July 23, 1919, and.

July 2 1 1919; for Danish patents` filed July 25, 1919, and July 29 1919, and of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to a drop projectile ,particularly for use on aircrafts and to fuses for same and has for its object to secure safe handling of said projectile and fuse and to allow acaptation to different requirements according tothe special nature of the target against which the projectile is to be used.

Fig. 3 a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fia'. 2.

Fig. 41 is a lonn'tudinal section and partly side elevation of the rear end fuse of the projectile and of the carrying parts of the projectile itself.

Fig. 5 is a top View on the rear end fuse.

Fi 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of a projectile in accordance with the invention provided with a front end fuse having a striker forming the' 'point of the projectile.

Figs. 7 and 8 show on a larger scale longitudinal sections throush the front end of the nrojectile of Fig. 6; the two figures illustrating the parts of the fuse in different positions.

Figs. 9 and 9 are cross sections on the line 9--9 of Fig. 7 showing different positions of an adjusting ring, namely Fig. 9 the position corresponding to quick dctonating of the charge and Fig. 9 the position corresponding to slow detonating.

The projectile of Fig. 1 is provided with two fuses 1 and 2. The front end fuse 1 isshown as being screwed into a cavity at the front end of the, shell of the projectile. This front end 3 of the shell is shown on the drawing as thick-walled, whereas the remaining part of the shell has only a thin wall 41, a conical steering tail 5 being provided free from explosive and carrying steering surfaces 6.

According to Fgure 2 the front fuse comprises a needle 7 and a hollow striker 8 carrying a percussion cap 9. The percnssion cap is Secured against contact with the needle point by a safety device comprising three weighted pendulums 10 rotatably mounted on pins 11 and adapted to be actuated by centrifugal force on rotation of the projectile. The penduluns 10 are interposed between the striker 8 and an undercut projccting ring 12 of the needle 7 which is adapted to enter into undercut recesses of the penduluins. 13 and 141 are sprinrs tending the former to keep the percussion cap 9 of striker 8 remote from the point of the needle 7 and the letter tending to keep the pin 11 remotefrom the recesses of the pendulums 10. 15 is a peg adapted to become inserted trans ersely to the fuse and the needle therein securing when inserted interlocking of the projecting ring 12 with the recesses in the pendulums 10. 16 is a casing for the fulininant to be ignited by the percussion cap 9 and adapted to ignite the explosi e charge 17 and to so bring the proiectile to explosion.

The rear endf use 2 is of similar construction as the front end fuse 1. The rear end fuse is mounted on the back plate 18 of the explosive chamber of the projectile. The needle is designated 19; in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4: of the drawing the needle is provided with two points 20, 21 the needle points cooperating with two percussion Caps 22 23 respectively ;two points and two percussi'o'n cans being provided in order to raise the certainty of igniting. The needle 19 is in this instance constructed as a Weighted holt in order to allow it to fulfill the function of a striker. 24 is a projecting undercut ring of the needle-striker .adapted .to interlock with corresponding recesses within the pendulums 25 of a eentritugal safety device. 2 is a spring tending to keep the needle points nt of contact with the percnssion Caps. 27 is a casing 'tor a fuln'inant adapted to become ignited itself by the percnssion caps and to ignite the explosive charge. 28 are headed screws fixed in plate 18 designed for Conveniently mounting the fnse on plete 18. To this end the main body or casing of the fnse is provided with a flange 29 provided With Slots 30 with enlarged ende allowing passing f the heads of screws Dy slightly rotating the fuse body with the flange 29 it becomes firmly connected with plate 18. For preventing nnintentional loosening of the tnse from plate 18 fiange 29 is provided with a plate spring; 31 with pin 32 adapted to snap into a recess ot flange 29. 33 is a screw ring for secili-ing plate 18 in posi ion and 34: a peg tor keeping the centrifugal penduluns 25 in interlocked position with the projecting ring 2& of the needle-striker 19 during transportation and handling ot' the hise and projeetile.

The handlin and operation of the tnses and 'projectile 'is asfollows:

During handling and transportation the fusesare set to safety by inserting pegs 15 and 34. hen this is done even qnick'rotation of the projectile is Unable to prodnce a swinging ont of the pendulnins 10 and 25, this being` prevented by interlockin; of the undercut projections 12 and 24 of the needles with the cooperating recesses of the pendulums 10 and 25 respcctively of the pendulnms. Before releasing the projectile on an aircraft the pegs 15 and 34 are pnlled ont wherenpon springs 14- and 26 withdraw the needles from interlocking with the pendulums which however continue to prevent the needle points to reach the correspon ding percnssion caps as long as they are' ,not swnng ont by cent rifngal force. During the falling down of the projectile to the gronnd the projectile is rotated ow ing to a propeller like action of the steering snrtaces 6; Under the influence of centritngal force' produced by such rotation the pendnhnns 10 and 25 Swing ont and do no longer prevent the access of the needle points to the percnssjon caps. In the case of the front end fuse' the striker 8 with its percnssion cap 9 is advanced towards'the needle point as soon as the velocity 'of the projectile on impact on a target has snfliciently diminished whereas in the case of the rear end fnse the weightedf needle forming itselt the striker is advanced towards the percnssion Caps' when the, projectile has. undergone sufiiient retardation of its Velocity too allow the striker needle 19 to overcome the resistance of spring; 26.

Under normal conditions it is only in the case-'of very'heavy projectiles with big masses oi' explosi ve necessary to provide two fnses one ,at the 'front end of the projectile and one at the rear end In most cases one nse is snfiicient to properly detonate the whole charge of the projectile.

In the ease ot light projectiles, say, ot about 12 kg., it is" however desirable to make at will the :hise acting on retardation of the velocity of the projectile as in the case of the above described fiises or on :linpact of the projectile .on the target. A projectile with such a 'fnse is illnstrated in Fi s. 6-9 of the drawings. The inain difference between the front end fese of Fig. 2 and th at of F 7 and 8 co: e therein. that the needle of Fiq. 2 is extended so as to penetrate the' 'front end of 'the fnse. This makes it possible to use the needle on the one hand if looked in position in the same way as in the case of Fig 2 and on the other hand, it given free for shifting on in'ipact on the target as striker, which on impact instantaneonsly ignites the percussio'n cap.

In Figs. 7-9 the n edlc-striler for quick igniting is ciesignate tl and the hollow striker' tor slow igniting The penduluins of the centrifigal devik'e are- 37; they are provided with recesses 38 cooperating with a projecting ring 39 o' needle-striker. The needle-striker is provided with a head penetrating the 't'i-ont of the tnse and sotorining the point o the projectile. The head of the needle-st is provided with projections 4:0 and recesses M alternating with each other. spring tending to keep the projecting r n 39 ont of engagement with the recesses the pcndnluns 4:3 is a spring tending to keep the percu ^`on cap 44: of the striker 38 out ot contact th the point of the needle idesignates a "otatable adjusti formingg tight joii t With the I sti'il er and' being provid Zh projeciions and i'ecesses 4-6, et'i" corresponding to the projec'ion nd i'ecesses 50, i i of the head of the nee ;e-striker and adapted to be brought at will into aligninent with thenn so that depending 'froni the adjnmnez i oi' the ring the strike is locked against being shi'tted towards the persnssion cap 44-, namely in the case where the projccti-ons the ring are in line with the projeci'ions of the head ot the striker or given tree tor such Shift/ing' movement, namely in the case where the projections of the ring are in line With the recesses ot the head of the sti-iken 48 is a casing for the tnlminant of' the fnse adapted to detonate the charge &Q of the i S Et projectile. 50 is a peg adapted to betransversely'inserted into the point of the fnse and 51 a protect ng cap :tor the front end of the rw 4 V 7 02 353 end a pl ate spring secnrin r the ring' t ll controlthe adjustment of the ring'with' regard to the fixed inark 53.

The operation of the use is as ollows:

During transporting, may it be of the i use alone or oi" a projectile provided with a fusc, the proteeting cap 51 is put on the front end ot' the ose 'and Secured thereon by peg 50. On inserting peg 50 which penetrates striker the projection 39 or" the striker is brought tointerlocking with the recesses 38 of the pendulu'ms' so'that the fuse is set to safety. If it is intended to throw the bomb against a target from an aircra ft the peg is pulled out and thereby the needle-sti'iker released from interlocking with pendulums 37 and the fuse set to quick or slow igniting by adjusting ring 45. Dur ing its falling to the ground the bomb is brought into rotation by suitable steering surfaces and the pendulums 37 swung out.

i Depending from the adjustment of ring 4:5

the bomb is ignited on impact or' on retardation of the velocity of the bomb. In the first case the needle-striker 35 is advanced towards the percussion cap &4: which in this case is stationary. In the second case the projections 40 of the needle-striker are in'line with the projections 46 of theadjusting ring, so that theneedlestriker in spite of the impact on the target is prelvented from advancing towards' the percussion cap. However on retardation of the veloeity of the projectile the hollow striker 36 advances towards the needle-striker 35 overcoming` the pressure exerted by spring 4:3 and the percussion cap 4: is brought into contact with the needle point causing eX- plosion of the bomb.

iVhat I claim is: v

1. In a drop' projectile a 'fuste comprising a needle slidably arranged thereima centriiugally actuated safety .device adapted to interlock with said needle, a spring tend ing towithdraw said needle from' interlotking with the centrifugal safety device and a peg adapted to be transversely inserted into said fuse and to retain if inserted said` needle and centrifugal safety device in interlo cked position.

2, In a, drop projectile a use comprising a needle slidably arranged therein, a centrifugally actuated safet-y device adapted to interlock with said needle, a spring tending to withdraw said needle from interlocking with the centrifugal safety device, a peg adapted to be transversely inserted into said fuse and to counteract said spring and to push the needle towards the centrifugal safety device so as to become interlocked therewith and a hollow striker normally held out of operative contact with said first named needle by said centrifugal safety devioe but adapted to advance towards it on retardation ot the velocity of said first named needle.

in a drop projeetile two uses one at the front end and the other at the rear end ot' the projectile each fuse comprising a needle slidably arranged therein, a centritugally actuated safety device adapted to interiock with said needle and a peg adapted to be transversely inserted into said fuse and to retain it' inserted said needle and centrit'ugal safety device in interlocked position.

4. In a drop projectile having an explosion chaniber closed at its rear end by a plate, two fuscs, one forming the point of the projectile and the other'mounted on' the rear side of rear wall of the explosion ehamber of the projectile, eg h fuse comprising a needle slidably arrh ed therein` a centritugally actuated safety device adapted to interlock with said needle, and a peg adapted to be transversely inserted into said fuse and to retain iii' inserted said needle and centrifugal safety `-device in interlocked position, the projectile being provided at its rear end with a hollow eonical steering tail detachably connected'with the body of the projectile and covering the rear plate of the explosion chamber and cnt-losing the rear end fuse.

5. In a drop projectile a fuse forming the point of the projectile comprising two strikers slidably mounted within the fusc one of them penetrating the point ot the projectile, a centrifugally actuated safety device adapted to keep the two strikers out of operative contact with each other so as to set the fuse at safety and means adapted to lock the striker penetrating the point of the projectile in position independently 'from the other striker leaving` only the lat-ter ready for action.

6. In a drop projectile a fuse forming the oint of the projectile comprising two strikers slidably mounted within the :hise one of them penetrating the point ot theprojectile, a centrifugally actuated safety device adapted to keep the two strikers out of operative contact with each other so as to set the fuse at safety, and an adjustingring'` the adjusting ring and the striker penetrating the point of the projectile each being: provided with cooperating projections and recesses corresponding to each other, so that depending from the adjustment of the ring either the projections or the recesses of the striker are in line with the projections of the ring so as to either lock the striker in position or to allow it to advance towards the second striker.

7 In a drop proje tile a fuse forming the point of the projectile comprising two strikers slidably mounted within the fuse one ot' them penetrating the point of the projectile, a centrifugally actuated safety clevice adapted to keep the two strikers out ot' operative contact With each other so as to set the fuse at safety, said centrifugal safety joining the exterior surface o't the SIE' dev ice adapted to interiock with the striker pemet-rating the point of the projectii` means edapted to secure interiocking ot seid striker and centrtugal device so to set the fuse at safety, and means adapted to lock the striker penetrating the point Ott tae projectile in position independently fre i the other striker leaving' only the letter zdv for action on actuation oit the centiitugi device. i

8. In a .drop projectile a fnse 'torming the point of the projectiie comprising ,two strikers slidably mounted within the ;e one of theni penetrating the point t' the projectile, a centritugally ectuated safety device edzpt to keep the two strikers ont 'of operative contact with each other so :is to set the fuse at safety, :and an adjusting' ring forming a movable intermediate portio' i oi" the enter surface ot penetrating the point ot the hise, said adjusting ring and the last named striker heino each provided with cooperatin: projections 'and recesses inside the hise. the adjustment of said ring allowing' to bring either its projections or its rez-esses in line with the projections of the striker so as to either lock the striker in position or to allow it advance towards the second striker on inipact provided release of the centriiuge] device.

9. A tuse for drop projectiles designed 'tor being inserted in and connected to the body of the projectile comprising a needle slidabiy arrenged therein, a centrit. Q'aHy actimted safety device adapted to interlock with said needle, e spring tending to withdrew said needle from interlocking with. the centri fugal safety devi e and e peg nodapted to hecome transversely inserted into said' ;hise and to retain if inserted said nee dle and centritugal safety device in intel-locked. position.

10. A tuse tor drop projectiles designed for being inserted in and connected to the body of the project-ile comprising a needle slidably arrznged therein, e cent'itugally actueted safety device edapted to interlock mama r with seid needle, a'sprinef tending to withdraw said needle from i eriochina' with the centritngal safety device, a pe;- :aapted to become transversely inserted into seid 'tuse and to counteract'said spring' and to mush the needle towards the centi' ngel safety device so as to become interlocked therewith and :2 hollow striker norn'ally held .out of operative contact with said first named n edie by said centrifngal safety device but adepted to advance towards it on reterdation oi" the velocitv ot said' first named needle.

i 11. Atuse for drop projectiles designed tor being inserted in and 'connected to %he body' ot the projectile comprising two strikers slidably mounted within the 'fese one ot them penetmting the forward end ot the fese, a centrifugelly actuated safety device adapted to keep the two strikers out ot' operative contact with each other so ns to set the fuse at safety, and means adapted to lock the striker penetratin; the point ot the tuse in position independentiy from the other striker.

12. A fuse for drop projectiles designed 'tor being inserted in and connected to the body of the projectile co'nprising two strikers slidably mounted within the' fuse one of them penetrating the forward end et the fuse, a centritugally actuated safety device adapted to keep the two strikers ont of operative contact with each other so to set the hise at safety, and an adjusting ring provided with projections and recesses, the striker pcnetrating'the point ot the fese like wise provided with correspondin; projec tions and recesses, the project-ions ot the rin adapted to be brought at will in line with the projections or with the recesses ot the striker so as to either lock the striker against longitudinal shifting' or to give it tree tor edvancingr towards the second strker.

In witness whereof I have herennto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

HEINRCH J ACOB Witnesses;

' HERMANN REISING. GEINY GENDIOFF. 

